Portland Thorns FC today announced that the club has signed Japanese midfielder Hina Sugita to a three-year contract. The Thorns acquired the rights to Sugita via a transfer with INAC Kobe Leonessa in exchange for allocation money. Sugita will join the team in Portland after the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Hina is a player that the club has been pursuing for the last few years, and we are happy to welcome her to Portland,” said Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc. “She is a young talent with international experience and a skillset that strengthens our roster.